Okay, so today I decided to mess around with “Way Away” by Yellowcard. I’ve always loved that song, and I figured it was time to finally figure out how to play it. I grabbed my guitar and got started.
Finding the Chords
First things first, I needed the chords. I’m not one of those musical geniuses who can just figure it out by ear, so I did what any normal person would do – I searched for a lesson.
I skimmed a couple of lessons until I found one that looked manageable. Nothing too fancy, just the basic chords. It seemed pretty straightforward, mostly power chords, which are my jam because I’m still not that great at barre chords.
Practice, Practice, Practice
With the chords, I started practicing. I played it slow at first, trying to get the transitions smooth. My fingers were kinda clumsy, and I definitely messed up the rhythm a bunch of times. The D chord was tricky. I started to feel the burn, but I kept at it.
Strumming Pattern
The rhythm of the song is fast. I can not follow the original speed when begin. Then, I tried to break it down into smaller parts, focusing on one section at a time. After repeating it maybe a hundred times, I started to get the hang of it. I played along with the recording, trying to match the strumming pattern.
Singing Along
Once I felt somewhat comfortable with the chords and strumming, I tried singing along. Now, I’m no Ryan Key, but I gave it my best shot. It was tough to coordinate the guitar playing and singing at first, my brain felt like it was going to explode. But after a few tries, I started to get into the groove.
Putting it All Together
Finally, I tried to put everything together – chords, strumming, and singing. It was rough, no doubt about it. There were plenty of flubs and missed chords, and my voice cracked a few times. But you know what? It sounded kinda like “Way Away”! I even recorded a short clip of myself playing it, just to see how far I’d come. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.
So, that’s my “Way Away” journey for today. Still needs a lot of work, but I’m happy with what I accomplished. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try to tackle the lead guitar parts, but for now, I’m calling it a win.
